Chapter VII: Convulsions in the East

Approaches to a Great Tragedy--State of Afghanistan--Position of Dost Mahomed in 1836--Mission of Captain Burnes to Cabul in 1837--Afghanistan, England, and Russia--Determination of the Governor-General of India to Restore Shah Soojah to the Afghan Throne--Garbling of Burnes’s Despatches--Action of the Anglo-Indian Government against the Russians before Herat--British Invasion of Afghanistan in 1839--Difficulties, Dangers, and Successes of the Campaign--Cold Reception of Shah Soojah at Cabul--Operations in the Khyber Pass--Outbreak of Insurrections against the Restored Power--Actions with the British--Surrender of Dost Mahomed--Increased Turmoil among the Afghans--Massacre of November 2nd, 1841--Imbecility of General Elphinstone--Murder of Sir William Macnaghten--Agreement between the British Authorities and Akbar Khan--Retreat of the Army of Occupation--Horrors of the March, and Complete Destruction of the Army--Defence of Jelalabad by Sir Robert Sale--Operations of Generals Nott, Pollock, and Sale--Capture of Cabul--Release of the Prisoners, and Close of the War--Lord Ellenborough and the Gates of Somnauth--Murder of Stoddart and Conolly in Bokhara--Disturbed State of England in 1842--The Queen’s First Visit to Scotland--Receipt of Good News from the East--Position of Prince Albert towards the State--Discretion of his Private Life--Extent of his Labours--Colonisation in New Zealand and New South Wales 111